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The rope started jerking uncontrollably, which meant the mules were bucking, and holding on grew more difficult by the second. Both arms stretched over her head, and burning from the strain, Maddie squeezed her eyes shut, focusing until she managed to wrap the rope around each wrist. Concentrating again, using all her efforts, she flipped around to face the hillside instead of the nothingness of sky. Mud and water splattered her face, and she couldn’t see the mules above her, just the edge of the ridge that had given way.
Lucky’s face appeared, peering over the edge, but too far away to reach her. “Don’t let go, Maddie!” he shouted. “Don’t you dare let go.”
Dare had nothing to do with it. She’d seen what was beneath her. Not much for several yards, then jagged, wicked rocks. Kicking her feet proved the years of water trickling down the hillside had left nothing but wet, slick rocks her boots couldn’t cling to.
Lucky disappeared and the jarring on her arms eased. She blinked at the water trickling over the edge and bent her head backward as far as her neck allowed, watching the spot as fear set in.
He was back a moment later. “I’m going to pull you up!” Lucky shouted. “Don’t let go!”
Claws of panic dug into her throat and prevented any words from forming, and the constant spray of water didn’t allow her to nod. Inside, though, she was screaming, Hurry, please, hurry. Her fingers were tingling, going numb as the rope cut into her wrists, and her shoulders stung from the weight of her body. Her lungs were burning, too, and although she told herself to breathe, it was impossible. The water hitting her face kept stealing her breath. Lucky was gone again, and there was no sensation of moving. Not upward, and she wanted to scream, beg him to pull her up, but that was as impossible as everything else.
She did start to move then, upward. All of a sudden Lucky was only a few feet away and grabbed hold of her elbows. In a rush, he tugged her over the edge, where he rolled with her, one over the other until they collided with the mountain wall.
Maddie lay there, gathering her wits and air, and praising the solid ground beneath her. Lucky was untangling the rope from her wrists. She tried to help, but her arms felt heavy and didn’t want to move no matter how hard she attempted to use them.
He wiped the water from her face then and grasped her shoulders. “Where are you hurt?”
“Nowhere.” The word burned, and sensation returned to the rest of her body, making her moan. “Everywhere.”
“Where’s everywhere, darling?” he asked, running both hands down her arms.
Feeling as if they’d been asleep and awakened by his touch, her arms begin to tingle, as if being poked with a million pins and needles. Her entire body started trembling and wouldn’t stop.
His hands ran over her rib cage and down her legs before he leaned over her again and cupped her cheeks. “Where’s everywhere? I’ve got to know if something is broken.”
Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her limbs, her body. Both shoulders ached and her backside stung, but there was no severe pain. “Nothing’s broken.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Remorse hit then, hard and fast. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Shh,” he said, leaning down and pressing his forehead against hers. “Nothing to be sorry about, darling,” he whispered.
Prepared for a reprimand, for she hadn’t been paying as close of attention as the trail demanded, his kindness made her eyes sting. “But I should have—”
“Hush now,” he said softly.
He kissed her forehead then; at least that was what it felt like. She’d never been kissed anywhere, so she couldn’t say for sure. His hands grasped her shoulders again and he lifted her into a sitting position. Maddie’s mind was spinning, especially as his arms folded around her as he held her tightly. Hugged her. She’d only been hugged one other time, by Smitty when they’d said their final goodbye. Her chest started burning and it wasn’t just her lungs—it was her heart warming. Her arms, no longer useless, wrapped around Lucky’s waist, held on to him. Held on tighter as water dripped from her eyes. She never cried. Never. Not even when she’d said goodbye to Smitty.
“Shh,” Lucky whispered again. “It’s all right, darling. You’re safe. Lucky has you.”
She knew that, and for some unexplainable reason more tears formed, rushing down her cheeks.
They stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms for some time, until her tears ran dry and her breathing returned. The burning in her chest eased, too. Turned into a soft, warm sensation that eventually allowed her to exhale.
